J&K special status: The shutdown call was given by separatists to protest against petitions seeking scrapping of Article 35-A. They have also called for a complete shutdown on Monday, the day of the hearing.

Seven PDP legislators had come out in the open against revolted against the party leadership after the PDP-BJP coalition government in the state fell, following the withdrawal of support by the saffron party.

Police said on Sunday that three militants behind Saleem’s abduction — two from Lashkar-e-Toiba and one from Hizbul Mujahideen — were killed in an encounter at Redwani in Kulgam. Saleem’s body had been recovered from the same area.

“This is not the India, we think of... India is of every religion — whether a Muslim, Christian, Hindu, Buddhist, Jain or Sikh... Everyone has equal rights. Efforts are being made to change it. You should pray to God to save us from such forces,” he said.